Rotary-piston internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

A rotary-piston internal combustion engine which includes a housing having a cylindrical inner peripheral wall surface, a cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted in the housing and equipped with pistons and cooperating connecting rods, which pistons are adapted to reciprocate as the rotor rotates, the rotor also being equipped with a plurality of compression seals which cooperate with the housing to seal a plurality of chambers which are charged with fuel and fired as they coincide with the combustion chamber and spark plug of the engine.

United States Patent [1 1 Blanchard June 3, 1975 ROTARY-PISTON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE [76] Inventor: James G. Blanchard, 2022 S.

Kirkwood St., Shreveport, La. 71108 [22] Filed: May 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 472,499

[52] U.S. CI 123/44 D [51] Int. Cl. F02b 57/02 [58] Field of Search 123/44 R, 44 C, 44 D; 417/273; 92/72 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,089,645 3/1914 Jenkins 123/44 C 3,596,641 8/1971 Hofman 123/44 R 3,599,612 8/1971 Villella 123/44 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,275,080 9/1961 France 123/44 D 11/1921 France 123/44 R 12/1920 Germany 123/44 R Primary ExaminerC. J. Husar Assistant ExaminerO. T. Sessions Attorney, Agent, or Firm.1ohn M. Harrison [5 7 ABSTRACT A rotary-piston internal combustion engine which includes a housing having a cylindrical inner peripheral wall surface, a cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted in the housing and equipped with pistons and cooperating connecting rods, which pistons are adapted to reciprocate as the rotor rotates, the rotor also being equipped with a plurality of compression seals which cooperate with the housing to seal a plurality of chambers which are charged with fuel and fired as they coincide with the combustion chamber and spark plug of the engine.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PMENTEUJW ms 3,886,913 SHEET 3 ROTARY-PISTON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and improved internal combustion engine, and more specifically, to an internal combustion engine of rotary design. The engine is designed to eliminate many of the moving parts of conventional reciprocating engines such as the crankshaft, timing gears or chains, camshaft, push rods, rocker arms, valves, valve springs and the like, all of which are necessary in conventional reciprocating engines. In a preferred embodiment, the rotary engine is designed to deliver four power impulses per revolution, each impulse of which drives the rotors onefourth of one revolution,'in a continuous thrust.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, varying designs have been proposed for internal combustion engines, and particularly, internal combustion engines of the rotary type. Typical of the patents which have recently issued regarding rotary internal combustion engines are US. Pat. No. 3,216,406, to K. Welm, and 3,596,641 to Josef Hofmann, the former patent disclosing an eceentrically rotating piston enclosed in a cylindrical chamber, and the latter describing a rotary engine having a set of pistons reciproeating within a rotor positioned inside the engine housing.

Many difficulties have been encountered with en gines of this type, chief among which are gas leakages at high temperatures and pressures brought about by high contact pressures between sliding parts not capable of being sufficiently cooled or lubricated. Other problems have become apparent in such areas as intake and exhaust design and insufficient valving techniques.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved internal combustion engine, and particu larly, an improved engine of combined rotary and reciprocating design which may be effectively cooled and sealed against high pressure and is, therefore, more efficient than predecessor designs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine which has no conventional crankshaft, timing gears or chain, camshaft, push rods, rocker arms, valves or valve springs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel rotary internal combustion engine which can be fitted with conventional engine service items such as a water pump, oil pan or sump, carburetor or fuel injection device, intake and exhaust manifolds, oil pump, and the like. with minimum or no service item design alterations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotary internal combustion engine which can be designed to utilize substantially any number of spark plugs or alternative fuel combustion means.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine of the rotary type which has a minimum of moving parts and is characterized by a design which affords easy access to internal working parts to provide an engine which is essentially maintenance-free.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary internal Combustion engine which can be adapted to operate on a variety offuels such as gasoline, bottled gas or other fuel suited for conventional engines.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combination rotary and reciprocating internal combus tion engine which is characterized by a longer engine life and less maintenance than conventional engines due to the presence of fewer moving parts and corresponding reduction of friction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rotary-reciprocating engine, the displacement of which is far smaller than, and the friction of which is reduced to a small fraction of, that present in the conventional cylindertype reciprocating internal combustion engine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine which is characterized by a greatly increased horscpower-to-weight ratio as compared to conventional engines.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine of a combined rotary and reciprocating design which is physically small in size, and yet which will develop horsepower levels comparable to conventional engines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the invention are provided in a rotary internal combustion engine which, in a preferred embodiment, includes the following:

l. A housing fitted with at least one spark plug or alternative fuel ignition means, and having a cylindrical inner peripheral wall surface fitted with intake and exhaust ports;

2. A cylindrical, shaft-mounted rotor having a cavity therein, in rotatable cooperation with the housing, and having cylinders therein communicating from the hollow cavity of the rotor to the inner peripheral wall surface of the housing;

3. Pistons carried by piston arms, which cooperate with a shaft in the interior of the engine. the pistons being adapted to reciprocate inside the cylinders as the spark plug fires, in order to induce rotation of the rotor; and,

4. A plurality of spring loaded compression seals displaced in the outer peripheral wall of the rotor to seal fuel chambers in the cylinders which become charged with fuel as they sweep past the intake port, the fuel being compressed as the respective chamber approaches the spark plug, and fired at the optimum time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood in view of the following description presented with reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a perspective, exploded view, partially in section, of the rotary internal combustion engine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along axis AA of the engine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along axis 8-8 of the engine illustrated in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the timing collar and shaft taken along Axis CC of the engine illustrated in FIG. 3, including a perspective view of a typical breaker point system in cooperation with the timing collar and shaft, which may be utilized to tire the engine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the rotary engine of this invention, generally illustrated by reference numeral 1, is shown in exploded view. Housing 2, fitted with spark plug 19, fuel jet 48, and threaded housing apertures 17 is generally cylindrically shaped, and defines cylindrical housing inside surface 59. Rotor 25, equipped with opposed cylinders 3, optional cylinder sleeves 4, and compression seal slots 28, is designed to fit rotatably inside housing 2. Pistons 5, connected to piston arms 8 by means of wrist pins 6, fitted inside registering wrist pin apertures 7 and piston arm apertures 9, are designed to register with cylinder sleeves 4, and reciprocate therein. As illustrated, a pair of pistons is provided for a common piston arm 8, and the piston arms 8 are equipped with drive slots 10, preferably fitted with optional drive slot inserts 42, to increase wear resistance. While two piston arms 8, and four pistons 5, are illustrated as a preferred arrangement, it will be appreciated that a single piston arm 8, and one pair of pistons 5 may be utilized, as desired. Drive slots 10 of piston arms 8 are adapted to register with each other and with drive pin mount sleeve 20, fitted on drive pin mount 12. Drive pin mount 12 is in turn mounted in cooperation with drive pin mount plate 21 fitted to rear cover plate 13 with drive pin mount plate bolts 22.

Referring again to rotor 25 of the rotary engine of this invention, compression seals 26 are designed to register with compression seal slots 28, and are biased against housing inside surface 59 of housing 2, by means of compression seal springs 27. Drive shaft is mounted on rotor 25 and is fitted with drive shaft gear 31, located at the terminal end of drive shaft 30 inside the cavity of rotor 25. While it will be appreciated that rotor 25 may be cast as an intergral unit, it is preferred that the rotor be cast in two sections, and bolted together by means of rotor bolts 29, for ease of casting. Rotor bolt apertures 23 serve to allow counter sinking of the heads of rotor bolts 29 in rotor 25.

Rear cover plate 13 serves to close housing 2 at one end, and is fitted with water jacket 18, equipped with water jacket inlet 60 and outlet 61. Rear cover plate oil seal 14 designed to prevent oil leakage from oil reservoir 46 (illustrated in FIG. 3) during operation of the engine, and rear cover plate apertures 15 are also provided in rear cover plate 13. Rear cover plate 13 is mounted onto housing 2 by means of rear cover plate bolts 16, which register with rear cover plate apertures 15 and bolt into threaded housing apertures 17. Alternator pulley 44 and fan 45 are mounted on drive pin 11, 2 which is concentrically mounted and journaled for rotation inside drive pin mount 12, mounted on drive pin mount plate 21. At the opposite end of fan 45, and also mounted on drive pin 11, is drive pin gear 32, which is adapted to cooperate with drive shaft gear 31 and effect rotation of alternotor pulley 44 and fan 45 as drive shaft 30 is caused to rotate. It will be appreciated that while it is preferred to effect rotatable connection between drive pin 11 and drive shaft 30 by means of drive shaft gear 31 and drive pin gear 32, other means known to those skilled in the art to effect such a connection may be utilized as desired.

Forward cover plate 34, fitted with water jacket 18, water jacket inlet 60, and outlet 61, forward cover plate apertures 35 and forward cover plate bearing 37, serves to close the forward end of housing 2, and is adapted for mounting onto housing 2 by means of forward cover plate bolts 36, which register with forward cover plate apertures 35 and bolt into threaded housing apertures 17. Drive shaft 30 is carried by forward cover plate bearing 37 and is maintained in proper alignment by forward cover plate bearing housing 38 and forward cover plate bearing housing bolts 39, cooperating with threaded bearing housing bolt apertures 63. Forward cover plate oil seal 43, carried by forward cover plate bearing housing 38 and gasket 62 prevents oil from traveling along shaft 30 and seeping into forward cover plate bearing housing 38 during operation of the engine.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be appreciated that piston arms 8 and pistons 5 are adapted to reciprocate on drive pin mount sleeve 20, fitted on drive pin mount 12, which are both positioned in eccentric relationship with respect to the center line of rotor 25. Furthermore, drive slots 10 and drive slot inserts 42 are positioned at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the center line of piston arms 8 in order to facilitate rotation of rotor 2 when spark plug 19 is fired, as hereinafter described.

Accordingly, again referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings and tracing a typical firing sequence, the rotary internal combustion engine of this invention is designed to operate as follows: with particular reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings, fuel is pumped by means of conventional fuel pump 56 from fuel tank 55 to conventional carburetor 57, where the proper amount of air is introduced. The fuel-air mixture is then injected into intake port 49 through fuel jet 48. It will be recognized that the fuel may also be introduced into the engine by fuel injection techniques known to those skilled in the art. As rotor 2 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction by the action of an engine starter motor (not illustrated), the fuel-air charge is sucked into a rotating cylinder 3, as a piston 5 reciprocates toward the center of the engine while the cylinder passes intake port 49. Subsequent rotation of rotor 2 causes compression of the fuel-air mixture as piston 5 reverses its initial reciprocating action and begins moving toward housing inside surface 59. Compression seals 26, located on either side of each respective cylinder and piston combination, prevent the compressed fuel from leaking between the outer peripheral wall of the rotor and housing inside surface 59, and as the piston-cylinder combination approaches spark plug 19, the mixture is compressed to the proper degree to permit firing. Upon optimum coincidence of the compressed fuel-air mixture and combustion chamber 40, spark plug 19 is caused to fire, igniting the fuel and forcing drive slot insert 42, positioned inside drive slot 10 in piston arm 8, against drive pin mount sleeve 20 as piston 5 is pushed downwardly toward the interior of rotor 2. Rotor 2 is constrained to rotate in a clockwise direction as drive slot insert 42 traverses drive pin mount sleeve 20 and the ignited charge expands. As the piston-cylinder combination sweeps past exhaust port 58, the spent gases are exhausted from the cylinder, thus completing the firing cycle. While the initial air-fuel charge is igniting and expanding, another piston-cylinder combination opposite the fired cylinder and served by a common piston arm 8, is receiving a fresh air-fuel charge as it sweeps past intake port 49. This second piston-cylinder combination, served by the common piston arm 8, performs the identical function described above, and operates opposite the first combination, as illustrated in the drawings. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as illustrated in the drawings, a third and fourth piston-cylinder combination, positioned, in opposed fashion on a common piston arm 8 and operating at right angles to the first and second set, serve to increase power and add balance to the engine of this invention.

Accordingly, it will be apparent from a consideration of the above description and the accompanying drawings that since in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the engine of this invention is equipped with four piston-cylinder combinations, it is therefore capable of firing four times per complete revolution of rotor 2 to increase engine efficiency. Furthermore. fewer pistoncylinder combinations may be utilized as desired, and additional spark plugs may be arranged in opposed fashion to permit a greater number of firings per revolution of rotor 2 to effect an increase in engine power. The engine may be mounted in a car or other vehicle by conventional means by use of mounting brackets 41.

As heretofore noted, it will be further appreciated that such conventional equipment as the starter, radiator, oil pump, water pump, carburetor or fuel injection system, and the like, can be made compatible with the rotary engine of this invention with a minimum of basic design changes in such equipment. Fuel injection and diesel ignition may also be utilized instead of conventional carburation, and spark plug ignition, respectively, as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, and as heretofore noted, water jackets 18 are illustrated on both the front and rear of the engine in the event water cooling is deemed desirable, although the engine may be effectively air cooled by means of cooling fins 24. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to permit maximum cooling, the engine is cooled by means of water jackets l8 supplemented by cooling fins 24. Adequate engine lubrication is achieved by means of oil reservoir 46 in the interior of the engine, in which oil 47 is maintained to properly lubricate the pistons, wrist pins, connecting rods, and gears located in the interior of the rotor. Additional lubrications may be made available to forward cover plate bearing 37 and other areas of the engine by means of such oil ducts as are deemed necessary by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, timing collar 33, mounted on shaft 30 and equipped with timing collar lobes 50, is positioned in cooperation with breaker points 51, in conventional manner, to effect sequential firing of spark plug 19.

As heretofore noted, it will be appreciated that many stockparts may be utilized by the engine of this invention. For example, standard pistons may be used, and these pistons may be equipped with conventional pis ton rings (not illustrated) to effect an acceptable seal, if desired. Furthermore, stock spark plugs, fan, and conventional service items such as radiator, oil pump, and the like, may be used, thereby eliminating the ne cessity for equipment designed especially for the engine of this invention.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above, what is claimed is:

l. A rotary-piston internal combustion engine comprising:

a. a housing fitted with at least one fuel ignition means, intake and exhaust ports, and an essentially cylindrical housing inside surface;

b. a forward cover plate in removable cooperation with the forward end of said housing and a rear cover plate in removable cooperation with the rear end of said housing to close said housing;

0. a rotor having a cavity partially through the center thereof and a plurality of opposed cylinder apertures radially disposed therein, said cylinder apertures communicating from the outer periphery of said rotor to said cavity;

d. a shaft carried by said rotor, one end of said shaft being journaled for rotation in said forward cover plate and the opposite end of said shaft terminating in said cavity;

e. a hollow drive pin mount fitted in cooperation with said rear cover plate;

f. a drive pin journaled for rotation in said hollow drive pin mount; 1

g. coupling means in cooperation with said opposite end of said shaft and said drive pin to effect rotation of said drive pin when said rotor is caused to rotate and said shaft rotates;

h. at least one piston arm,'the ends of which are adapted to extend into two of said opposed cylinder apertures, and the centers of which are fitted with a slot for engagement with said drive pin mount; and

. a plurality of pistons carried by said ends of said at least one piston arm and adapted to register with said opposed cylinder apertures whereby when said rotor is caused to rotate, said slot in said piston arm traverses said drive pin mount and said pistons are caused to reciprocate radially in said cylinder apertures.

2. The engine of claim 1 further comprising:

a. radial slots in said outer peripheral surface of said rotor at predetermined spacing; and

b. compression seals in registration with said slots and in cooperation with said housing inside surface and said forward cover plate and said rear cover plate, to prevent escape of compressed gasses from said cylinder apertures.

3. The engine ofclaim 1 wherein said coupling means is a pair of gears.

4. The engine of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a pair of gears, and further comprising:

a. radial slots in the outer peripheral surface of said rotor at predetermined spacing; and

b. compression seals in registration with said slots and in cooperation with said housing inside surface and said forward cover plate and said rear cover plate, to prevent escape of compressed gasses from said cylinder apertures.

5. The engine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of opposed cylinder apertures is two opposed cylinder apertures; said at least one piston arm is a single piston arm; and said plurality of pistons is two pistons.

6. The engine of claim 4 wherein said plurality of opposed cylinder apertures is four cylinder apertures; said at lease one piston arm is a pair of piston arms disposed at essentially a angle with respect to each other; and said plurality of pistons is four pistons.

7. The engine of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a first gear fitted on said drive shaft and a second gear fitted on said drive pin, said first gear and said second gear adapted to mesh and effect rotation of said drive pin when said drive shaft is caused to rotate.

8. The engine of claim 1 further comprising:

9. The engine of claim 1 further comprising an oil reservoir essentially in the center of said engine for lubrication of said engine.

10. The engine of claim 4 wherein said compression seals are biased against said housing inside surface. 

1. A rotary-piston internal combustion engine comprising: a. a housing fitted with at least one fuel ignition means, intake and exhaust ports, and an essentially cylindrical housing inside surface; b. a forward cover plate in removable cooperation with the forward end of said housing and a rear cover plate in removable cooperation with the rear end of said housing to close said housing; c. a rotor having a cavity partially through the center thereof and a plurality of opposed cylinder apertures radially disposed therein, said cylinder apertures communicating from the outer periphery of said rotor to said cavity; d. a shaft carried by said rotor, one end of said shaft being journaled for rotation in said forward cover plate and the opposite end of said shaft terminating in said cavity; e. a hollow drive pin mount fitted in cooperation with said rear cover plate; f. a drive pin journaled for rotation in said hollow drive pin mount; g. coupling means in cooperation with said opposite end of said shaft and said drive pin to effect rotation of said drive pin when said rotor is caused to rotate and said shaft rotates; h. at least one piston arm, the ends of which are adapted to extend into two of said opposed cylinder apertures, and the centers of which are fitted with a slot for engagement with said drive pin mount; and i. a plurality of pistons carried by said ends of said at least one piston arm and adapted to register with said opposed cylinder apertures whereby when said rotor is caused to rotate, said slot in said piston arm traverses said drive pin mount and said pistons are caused to reciprocate radially in said cylinder apertures.
 1. A rotary-piston internal combustion engine comprising: a. a housing fitted with at least one fuel ignition means, intake and exhaust ports, and an essentially cylindrical housing inside surface; b. a forward cover plate in removable cooperation with the forward end of said housing and a rear cover plate in removable cooperation with the rear end of said housing to close said housing; c. a rotor having a cavity partially through the center thereof and a plurality of opposed cylinder apertures radially disposed therein, said cylinder apertures communicating from the outer periphery of said rotor to said cavity; d. a shaft carried by said rotor, one end of said shaft being journaled for rotation in said forward cover plate and the opposite end of said shaft terminating in said cavity; e. a hollow drive pin mount fitted in cooperation with said rear cover plate; f. a drive pin journaled for rotation in said hollow drive pin mount; g. coupling means in cooperation with said opposite end of said shaft and said drive pin to effect rotation of said drive pin when said rotor is caused to rotate and said shaft rotates; h. at least one piston arm, the ends of which are adapted to extend into two of said opposed cylinder apertures, and the centers of which are fitted with a slot for engagement with said drive pin mount; and i. a plurality of pistons carried by said ends of said at least one piston arm and adapted to register with said opposed cylinder apertures whereby when said rotor is caused to rotate, said slot in said piston arm traverses said drive pin mount and said pistons are caused to reciprocate radially in said cylinder apertures.
 2. The engine of claim 1 further comprising: a. radial slots in said outer peripheral surface of said rotor at predetermined spacing; and b. compression seals in registration with said slots and in cooperation with said housing inside surface and said forward cover plate and said rear cover plate, to prevent escape of compressed gasses from said cylinder apertures.
 3. The engine of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a pair of gears.
 4. The engine of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a pair of gears, and further comprising: a. radial slots in tHe outer peripheral surface of said rotor at predetermined spacing; and b. compression seals in registration with said slots and in cooperation with said housing inside surface and said forward cover plate and said rear cover plate, to prevent escape of compressed gasses from said cylinder apertures.
 5. The engine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of opposed cylinder apertures is two opposed cylinder apertures; said at least one piston arm is a single piston arm; and said plurality of pistons is two pistons.
 6. The engine of claim 4 wherein said plurality of opposed cylinder apertures is four cylinder apertures; said at lease one piston arm is a pair of piston arms disposed at essentially a 90* angle with respect to each other; and said plurality of pistons is four pistons.
 7. The engine of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a first gear fitted on said drive shaft and a second gear fitted on said drive pin, said first gear and said second gear adapted to mesh and effect rotation of said drive pin when said drive shaft is caused to rotate.
 8. The engine of claim 1 further comprising: a. drive slot inserts in cooperation with said drive slots in said at least one piston arm to improve wear resistance of said drive slots, and b. cylinder sleeves in cooperation with said cylinder apertures and said pistons to improve wear resistance of said cylinder apertures.
 9. The engine of claim 1 further comprising an oil reservoir essentially in the center of said engine for lubrication of said engine. 